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South Africa: Mandela in hospital for tests

Published on NewsOK
Modified: March 9, 2013 at 12:08 pm •
Published: March 9, 2013

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela, the former South African president and anti-apartheid leader, was admitted to a hospital on Saturday for a scheduled medical check-up and doctors say there is no cause for "alarm," the president's office said.

FILE - In this June 17, 2010 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela leaves the chapel after attending the funeral of his great-granddaughter Zenani Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa's presidency says Mandela was admitted to a hospital for a scheduled medical check-up, Saturday, March 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool, File)

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said 94-year-old Mandela went in the afternoon for tests "to manage existing conditions in line with his age" at a hospital in Pretoria, the capital.

"Doctors are conducting tests and have thus far indicated that there is no reason for any alarm," Maharaj said in a statement. He appealed for the public to respect the privacy of Mandela and his family.

Mandela was hospitalized for nearly three weeks in December before going home on Dec. 26. At that time, he was treated for a lung infection and had a surgical procedure to remove gallstones.

The former president has become increasingly frail over the years. In January 2011, Mandela was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials initially described as tests but what turned out to be an acute respiratory infection. He was discharged days later. He also had surgery for an enlarged prostate gland in 1985.